Muffler for compressor and compressor having the same

ABSTRACT

A muffler for a compressor and a compressor having the same are provided, in which a suction noise device and a discharge noise device may be integrally formed to reduce a number of components of a suction side muffler and a discharge side muffler so as to reduce leakage of refrigerant generated at an assembled portion of the muffler, and to reduce a length of a suction passage and a discharge passage. Such a division between the suction noise device and the discharge noise device may prevent discharged refrigerant from unintentionally heating suctioned refrigerant, which may reduce suction loss. The formation of the suction and discharge noise devices using a plastic material may reduce fabricating costs, and the structures of the suction and discharge side noise spaces may be simplified and noise removal effects may be improved, reducing an overall size of the muffler and improving noise effects.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a Reissue Application of prior U.S. Pat. No.9,587,634 issued Mar. 7, 2017 (U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/259,087 filed Apr. 22, 2014), which claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119 to Korean Application No. 10-2013-0045641 filed in Korea on Apr.24, 2013, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This relates to a compressor, and particularly, to a muffler for acompressor having a suction muffler and a discharge muffler, and acompressor having the same.

2. Background

A hermetic compressor may include a motor installed in a hermeticcasing, and a compression device receiving a driving force from themotor to compress a refrigerant. Such a compressor may be applied to arefrigerating system of a refrigerator, an air conditioner and the like.

Hermetic compressors may be classified into various types, such as arotary compressor, a scroll compressor, a reciprocating compressor, andthe like according to a compression method and a type of refrigerantused. The reciprocating compressor may compress a refrigerant byreciprocating a piston within a cylinder. The reciprocating compressormay be a vibration type or a connection type reciprocating compressoraccording to a driving method of a piston. In the vibration typereciprocating compressor, the piston may reciprocate in the cylinder andvibrate while connected with a mover of a reciprocating motor, therebycompressing a refrigerant. In the connection type reciprocatingcompressor, the piston may reciprocate in the cylinder while connectedwith a rotation shaft of a rotation motor, thereby compressing arefrigerant.

In the vibration type reciprocating compressor, a suction side throughwhich a refrigerant is introduced into a compression chamber of acylinder and a discharge side through which a refrigerant is dischargedout of the compression chamber may be arranged at one side or twoopposite sides of the piston. In the connection type reciprocatingcompressor, the suction side and the discharge side may be arranged atone side of the piston.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary reciprocatingcompressor;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a reciprocating compressor,in accordance with an embodiment as broadly described herein;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an integral muffler of thecompressor shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a disassembled perspective view of a fixing device which fixesthe integral muffler shown in FIG. 3 to a compression device of thecompressor shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the integral muffler shown in FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lower housing shown in FIG. 5,separated from the integral muffler;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line “I-I” of FIG. 5,providing an inner sectional view of a suction noise device;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line “II-II” of FIG. 5,providing an inner sectional view of a discharge noise device;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a connection-fixing device coupled to acylinder block of the integral muffler;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sealing device provided between theintegral muffler and a compression device;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fixing device of the integralmuffler; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an integrally formed a suction sidelower housing and a discharge side lower housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description will now be given in detail of a muffler for a compressor,and a compressor having the same according to the exemplary embodiments,with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of areciprocating compressor. As shown in FIG. 1, the exemplaryreciprocating compressor may include a motor 10 installed in a hermeticcasing 1, and a compression device 20 installed above the motor 10 andreceiving a rotational force from the motor 10 to compress arefrigerant. The motor 10 may include a stator 11 elastically supportedin the hermetic casing 1 by a frame 2, a rotor 12 rotatably installed inthe stator 11, and a crankshaft 13 coupled to a center of the rotor 12to transfer a rotational force to the compression device 20.

The compression device 20 may include a cylinder block 21 forming acompression chamber 21a, a piston 22 reciprocating in an axial directionwithin the compression chamber 21a of the cylinder block 21 so as tocompress a refrigerant, a connecting rod 23 having a first end rotatablycoupled to the piston 22 and a second end rotatably coupled to thecrankshaft 13 to convert a rotary motion of the motor 10 into a linearmotion of the piston 22, a sleeve 24 inserted between the crankshaft 13and the connecting rod 23 to serve as a bearing, a valve assembly 25coupled to an end portion of the cylinder block 21 and including asuction valve and a discharge valve, a suction muffler 26 coupled to asuction side of the valve assembly 25, a head cover 27 coupled toaccommodate a discharge side of the valve assembly 25, and a dischargemuffler 28 communicating with the head covet 27 to attenuate dischargenoise of the discharged refrigerant. In this exemplary embodiment, aconnection type reciprocating compressor will be referred to as areciprocating compressor, for ease of discussion and explanation.

The suction muffler 26 may include a muffler main body 26a having asuction opening on a side surface of a suction side noise space and adischarge opening on an upper surface of the suction side noise space,and a connection pipe 26b extending from the discharge opening of themuffler main body 26a and connected to a suction side of the valveassembly 25. A plurality of noise spaces to attenuate suction noise andpressure pulsation, which are generated while the refrigerant issuctioned, may be formed within the suction muffler 26. The connectionpipe 26b may be covered by the head cover 27 and coupled to communicatewith a suction passage of the valve assembly 25 in a closely adheredmanner. The head cover 27 may be made of a metal material so as tosupport the connection pipe 26b of the suction muffler 26, and may becoupled to the cylinder block 21 by bolts. The discharge muffler 28 maybe made of a metal material, formed in a dome shape, and may beinstalled on an upper surface of the cylinder block 21. The dischargemuffler 28 may communicate with a discharge side of the head cover 27through a discharge passage which penetrates through the cylinder block21. Accordingly, the discharge muffler 28 may be spaced apart from thesuction muffler 26 by a predetermined interval.

A refrigerant suction pipe SP may guide a refrigerant passing through arefrigerating cycle into an inner space of the hermetic casing, or maycommunicate directly with the discharge opening of the suction muffler26.

In this exemplary reciprocating compressor, when power is applied to themotor 10, the rotor 12 may be rotated together with the crankshaft 13 toreciprocate the piston 22 via the connecting rod 23. In response to thereciprocation of the piston 22, refrigerant may be introduced into thecompression chamber 21a of the cylinder block 21 via the suction sidenoise space of the suction muffler 26 and be compressed in thecompression chamber 21a. The compressed refrigerant may be dischargedinto the head cover 27 through the discharge valve of the valve assembly25 and then discharged into the refrigerating cycle through thedischarge muffler 28. This series of processes may be repetitivelycarried out.

However, the suction muffler 26, the head cover 27 and the dischargemuffler 28 of this exemplary reciprocating compressor are fabricated asseparate components and assembled. This may increase the number ofassembly procedures, and cause a gap between the suction muffler 26 andthe head cover 27 such that the refrigerant may leak out, which maylower compressor performance.

Also, the head cover 27 may secure the suction muffler 26 by coveringthe suction muffler 26. Accordingly, as the suction muffler 26 is heateddue to the refrigerant discharged to the head cover 27, a specificvolume of the suctioned refrigerant increases, resulting in suctionloss. The cylinder block 21 may also be overheated due to the hightemperature refrigerant discharged to the discharge muffler 28, therebylowering compression efficiency of the compression chamber 21a.

In this exemplary reciprocating compressor, the connection pipe 26h 26bof the suction muffler 26 communicates with the compression chamber 21athrough insertion into the head cover 27, and the discharge muffler 28,communicates with the compression chamber 21a through the dischargepassage of the cylinder block 21. Accordingly, the suction passage andthe discharge passage are increased in length, and flow resistance ofthe refrigerant is increased a corresponding amount, loweringcompression performance.

In this exemplary reciprocating compressor, the head cover 27 and thedischarge muffler 28 are casted or plated using a metal material, whichmay increase material costs and increase in fabricating costs due tolower mechanical properties.

In this exemplary reciprocating compressor, the plurality of noisespaces may be provided in the inner space of the suction muffler 26, andin the inner space of the discharge muffler 27 28. However, this maylimit the formation of complicated noise spaces in the inner spaces ofthe suction muffler 26 and the discharge muffler 28 is a small sizedcompressor. On the other hand, if the noise spaces of each muffler 26and 27 28 are reduced, taking this limitation into account, a noiseremoval effect of the mufflers 26 and 27 28 may be reduced acorresponding amount.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a reciprocating compressorincluding an integral muffler in accordance with an embodiment asbroadly described herein, FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of theintegral muffler shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a disassembled perspectiveview of a fixing device, and FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of theintegral muffler shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, a reciprocating compressor having a muffler asembodied and broadly described herein may include a casing 1, a motor 10installed in an inner space of the casing 1 and having a stator 11, arotor 12 and a rotation shaft 13 to generate a rotational force, and acompression device 20 coupled to the rotation shaft 13 of the motor 10to suction and compress a refrigerant by the rotation force transferredfrom the motor 10. The compression device 20 may include a cylinderblock 21, a piston 22, a connecting rod 23, a sleeve 24, and a valveassembly 25. An integral muffler 100 may be coupled at a side of thecompression chamber 21a of the cylinder block 21.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the integral muffler 100 may include asuction noise device 101 communicating with a suction opening 25a of thevalve assembly 25, a discharge noise device 102 located at one side ofthe suction noise device 101 to communicate with a discharge opening 25bof the valve assembly 25, and a connection-fixing device 103 closelyadhered onto the valve assembly 25 and coupled to the cylinder block 21so as to connect the suction noise device 101 and the discharge noisedevice 102 to each in a manner that the suction noise device 101 maycommunicate with the suction opening 25a and the discharge noise device102 may communicate with the discharge opening 25b.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, the suction noise device 101 may includea suction side upper housing 131, and a suction side lower housing 111forming a suction side noise space 101a together with the suction sideupper housing 131.

The suction side upper housing 131 forming the suction side noise space101a, as illustrated in FIG. 7, may include an inlet 131a incommunication with the inner space of the casing 1 or directly connectedwith a suction pipe SP. The inlet 131a may be formed on an upper surfaceof the suction side upper housing 131 in a perpendicular directiontoward a bottom surface of the suction side lower housing 111. However,in some cases, the inlet 131a may be formed on a side surface of thesuction side upper housing 131 or on the suction side lower housing 111.

However, in certain embodiments the inlet 131a may be formed in parallelto a suction guide opening 131b or by a similar angle, if possible, suchthat refrigerant may be guided to the suction guide opening 131b whilefully circulating, or orbiting, in the suction side noise space 101a andsimultaneously noise emitted from the compression device 20 may be fullyattenuated in the suction side noise space 101a without flowing outthrough the suction guide opening 131b. Here, the inlet 131a may besimply formed in a shape of a hole, but, as illustrated in FIG. 7, may,in certain embodiments, be formed in a shape of a long pipe, in theinterest of noise attenuation. When the inlet 131a is formed in theshape of a pipe, refrigerant introduced into the suction side noisespace 101a may be guided toward a bottom of the space 101a.

An inner side of the suction side noise space 101a may be divided into aplurality of noise chambers. However, depending on a size of thecompressor, as illustrated in FIG. 6, it may not have to be divided intoa plurality of noise chambers. In this case, the suction guide opening131b and a suction chamber 133a provided at the connection-fixing device103 may serve as a type of Helmholtz resonator. Therefore, noise may beappropriately reduced even without forming the plurality of noisechambers in the suction side noise space 101a. This may result insimplification of a structure of the suction side lower housing 111which forms the suction side noise space 101a.

The suction guide opening 131b may be formed through another side of thesuction side noise space 101a. The suction guide opening 131b may guiderefrigerant introduced into the suction side noise space 101a toward thecompression chamber 21a of the cylinder block 21. The suction guideopening 131b, as aforementioned, may be formed through the suction sideupper housing 131 with an angle in parallel to the inlet 131a.

An oil outlet 111a may be formed through a bottom surface of the suctionside noise space 101a. Oil which is separated from the refrigerant inthe suction side noise space 101a may be discharged into the inner spaceof the casing 1 through the oil outlet 111a. The oil outlet 111a may beformed away from the inlet 131a. For example, when the suction sidenoise space 101a is divided into two areas in a horizontal direction,the inlet 131a and the oil outlet 111a may be formed in different areasto sufficiently separate and discharge the oil.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the discharge noise device 102 mayinclude a discharge side upper housing 132, and a discharge side lowerhousing 121 forming a discharge side noise space 102a together with thedischarge side upper housing 132.

A discharge guide opening 132a may be formed through one side of thedischarge side noise space 102a. The discharge guide opening 132a maycommunicate with the compression chamber 21a such that the compressedrefrigerant may be introduced into the discharge side noise space 102a.An outlet 121a may be formed through another side of the discharge sidenoise space 102a such that the refrigerant of the discharge side noisespace 102a may be guided toward a discharge hose 150. The outlet 121a,as illustrated in FIG. 8, may be formed through a bottom surface of thedischarge noise device 102, but in some cases, may also be formedthrough the discharge side upper housing 132. However, the outlet 121amay be formed away from the discharge guide opening 132a, such that arefrigerant may be guided toward the discharge guide opening 132a whilefully circulating, or orbiting, in the discharge side noise space 102aand simultaneously noise emitted by the compression device 20 may befully attenuated in the discharge side noise space 102 without flowingout through the outlet 121a. For example, when the discharge side noisespace 102a is divided into two areas in a horizontal direction, thedischarge guide opening 132a and the outlet 121a may be formed indifferent areas to sufficiently attenuate and discharge discharged noiseor pressure pulsation.

A plurality of reinforcing ribs 132b, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, maybe formed on an inner circumferential surface of the discharge sidenoise space 102a. A high pressure refrigerant may be discharged into thedischarge side noise space 102a and accordingly, the discharge sideupper housing 132 forming the discharge side noise space 102a may bevulnerable to burst due to the discharge pressure of the refrigerant.Hence, the reinforcing ribs 132b may be formed along the innercircumferential surface of the discharge side noise space 102a so as toincrease internal pressure strength of the discharge side upper housing132.

In addition, the reinforcing ribs 132b may be formed long toward an opensurface so as to facilitate separation of a core during molding of thedischarge side upper housing 132. However, the reinforcing ribs 132b maybe formed on an outer circumferential surface of the discharge sideupper housing 132 forming the discharge side noise space 102a, in amanner of having a predetermined width. Even in this case, thereinforcing ribs 132b may be formed long in an up and down, or vertical,direction, in view of an advantage during molding.

An upper end of each reinforcing rib 132b may come in contact with aninner circumferential surface of an upper side of the discharge sideupper housing 132, and a lower end thereof may extend up to anintermediate height of the discharge side noise space 102a, therebyensuring a flow path for the refrigerant therethrough. However, when thelength of the reinforcing rib 132b is further increased, the internalpressure strength of the discharge side upper housing 132 may also beincreased. Hence, the reinforcing rib 132b may extend up to an open endof the discharge side upper housing 132, if possible. In this case, arefrigerant flow recess 121b may be formed with a predetermined depth,spaced apart from the lower end of the reinforcing rib 132b, so as toform a refrigerant flow path. The outlet 121a may be formed through therefrigerant flow recess 121b.

The reinforcing ribs 132b may divide the discharge side noise space 102ainto a plurality of noise chambers. However, when the discharge sideupper housing 132 is formed to have a thickness or strength tolerable tointernal pressure, the reinforcing ribs 132b may not be necessary. Inthis case, since the discharge guide opening 132a and a dischargechamber 133b serve as a type of Helmholtz resonator, noise may beappropriately attenuated even without forming the plurality of noisechambers in the discharge side noise space 102a.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connection-fixing device 103 mayinclude a connection housing 133 which integrally connects the suctionside upper housing 131 and the discharge side upper housing 132 to eachother. The connection housing 133 may be integrally formed between thesuction side upper housing 131 and the discharge side upper housing 132.

The connection housing 133 may include a suction chamber 133a formed ona surface facing the valve assembly 25 and communicating with thesuction guide opening 131b, and a discharge chamber 133b formed at oneside of the suction chamber 133a and communicating with the dischargeguide opening 132a. A barrier wall 133c may be provided between thesuction chamber 133a and the discharge chamber 133b, partitioning thesuction chamber 133a and the discharge chamber 133b from each other.

The suction chamber 133a and the discharge chamber 133b may be formedwith predetermined depths and widths on one side surface of theconnection housing 133, namely, on a sealing surface 133d facing thevalve assembly 25. A retainer 133e which restricts an open level of adischarge valve 25d coupled to the valve assembly 25 may protrude fromthe discharge chamber 133b. The retainer 133e may be formed adjacent tothe discharge guide opening 132a.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9, a sealing protrusion 133f, which has apredetermined height, may be formed on the sealing surface 133d of theconnection housing 133, so as to surround the periphery of the suctionchamber 133a and the discharge chamber 133b, thereby forming a sealbetween the suction chamber 133a and the discharge chamber 133b. Thesealing protrusion 133f may be integrally formed with the sealingsurface 133d, or coated as a separate sealant.

A sealing groove 25e with a predetermined depth for insertion of thesealing protrusion 133f therein may be formed on a sealing surface ofthe valve assembly 25 facing the sealing protrusion 133f.

Here, the sealing protrusion 133f may be formed by coating a materialwith elasticity on the sealing surface 133d, but in some cases, asillustrated in FIG. 11, a separate sealing device 134, such as a gasket,may be installed without forming the sealing protrusion 133f on theconnection housing 133. When the sealing device 134 is installed,supporting protrusions 133g supporting the sealing device 134 may beformed on the sealing surface 133d of the integral muffler or thesealing surface of the valve assembly 25, such that the sealing device134 may be provisionally assembled to a proper position. In this case,the sealing device 134 may include supporting recesses 134a in which thesupporting protrusions 133g are inserted.

A mounting surface 133h on which a fixing device 140 may be coupled maybe evenly formed on the other side surface of the connection housing133, namely, an opposite surface of the sealing surface 133d.

On the other hand, the suction side lower housing 111 and the dischargeside lower housing 121 may be formed of a PBT material which isrelatively inexpensive and has relatively low internal pressurestrength, whereas the suction side upper housing 131, the discharge sideupper housing 132 and the connection housing 133 may be formed of amaterial, such as nylon 66, which is relatively expensive but hasrelatively high internal pressure strength. Hence, the discharge sideupper housing 132 may be formed greater than the suction side upperhousing 131, in view of preventing the discharge noise device 102 frombursting. That is, since the discharge noise device 102 is filled with arefrigerant having a discharge pressure that is higher than the suctionpressure of the suction noise device 101, the components forming thedischarge noise device 102 may employ a material having relatively highinternal pressure strength. Therefore, a volume of the discharge sideupper housing 132 may be made of the material having the relatively highinternal pressure strength greater than that of the suction side upperhousing 131 made of the material having the relatively low internalpressure strength.

Since internal pressure of the suction noise device 101 is not higherthan internal pressure of the casing 1, the suction side lower housing111 and the suction side upper housing 131 may effectively block leakageof refrigerant even upon assembly using a hook 111b and a hook recess131c. The discharge side lower housing 121 and the discharge side upperhousing 132 of the discharge noise device 102 may be completely sealedin an ultrasonic welding or laser welding manner, so as to preventleakage of refrigerant.

The integral muffler 100 may include a through hole formed therethroughso as to be coupled to the cylinder block 21 together with the valveassembly 25. However, when the integral muffler 1011 is formed of amaterial, such as plastic, with relatively low strength, it may becoupled to the cylinder block 21 together with the valve assembly 25using a separate fixing device 140, such as, for example, a clamp.

In this case, the fixing device 140 may be formed of a metallic materialto maintain coupling strength. The fixing device 140 may be formed in ashape of a tripod having at least three coupling legs 142 on an outercircumferential surface of a fixing unit 141, in such a manner that theconnection housing 133 of the integral muffler 100, which covers thefixing device 140, may be partially exposed without being completelyshielded by the fixing device 140.

In order for the fixing device 140 to stably support the integralmuffler 100, position-fixing protrusions 133i may be formed on an outercircumferential surface of the integral muffler 100, and position-fixingrecesses 142a in which the position-fixing protrusions 133i are insertedmay be formed on an inner circumferential surface of the coupling leg(s)142 of the fixing device 140. The positions of the position-fixingprotrusions and the position-fixing recesses may be reversed.

A pressed portion 133j may be formed on the connection housing 133 ofthe integral muffler 100. The pressed portion 133j may be pressed by thefixing device 140 such that the sealing protrusion 133f or the sealingdevice 134 may be closely adhered onto the opposite side. A pressingportion 141a may be formed as a protrusion from the fixing unit 141 ofthe fixing device 140 toward the pressed portion and inserted into thepressed portion 133j of the connection housing 133 to press the pressedportion 133j, such that the pressed portion 133j presses the connectionhousing 133 to be closely adhered onto the valve assembly 25. Thepressed portion 133j may be formed on a position aligned with thebarrier wall 133c to tightly block the suction chamber 133a and thedischarge chamber 133b.

The pressing portion 141a, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, may protrudefrom an inner side surface of the fixing unit 141 into a rectangularshape, to be inserted into the pressed portion 133j of the connectionhousing 133 and press the pressed portion 133j. Or, as illustrated inFIG. 10, the pressing portion 141a may be formed on an inner sidesurface of the fixing unit 141 into a shape of a circular protrusion topress the entire connection housing 133. Alternatively, the couplinglegs 142 of the fixing device 140 may be bent such that the fixingdevice 140 may exert an elastic force toward the connection housing 133,thereby fixing the integral muffler 100.

A suction guide pipe 160 may guide refrigerant into the muffler 100.

A muffler for a compressor as embodied and broadly described herein mayprovide the following operation effects.

That is, when the rotor 12 is rotated in response to external powerapplied, the rotation shaft 13 press-fit in the rotor 12 may be rotated.The rotation of the rotation shaft 13 may be converted into a horizontalmotion by the connecting rod 23 connected to a cam. In response to this,the piston 22 may reciprocate within the cylinder block 21. According tothe reciprocation of the piston 22, refrigerant may be drawn into thecompression chamber 21a of the cylinder block 21 through the suctionnoise device 101 and the suction chamber 133a of the integral muffler100. The compressed refrigerant may be introduced into the dischargeside noise space 102a of the discharge noise device 102 via thedischarge chamber 133b of the integral muffler 100, and then dischargedinto a refrigerating cycle through the discharge hose 150 and adischarge pipe. Such series of processes may be repetitively carriedout.

Suction noise and pressure pulsation, which may be generated while therefrigerant is suctioned, may be attenuated in the suction side noisespace 101a and the suction chamber 133a of the suction noise device 101.On the other hand, discharge noise and pressure pulsation, which may begenerated while the refrigerant is discharged, may be attenuated in thedischarge side noise space 102a and the discharge chamber 133b of thedischarge noise device 102.

In such a manner, the integral muffler as embodied and broadly describedherein may be formed by including the suction side lower housing formingthe suction noise device, the discharge side lower housing forming thedischarge noise device, and the connection housing connecting a suctionside upper housing and a discharge side upper housing, both of whichseal the suction side lower housing and the discharge side lower housingin a covering manner. This may minimize the number of components of theintegral muffler, thereby simplifying assembly procedures.

By integrally forming a suction side and a discharge side of aconnection-fixing device which comes in contact with the valve assembly,generation of a stepped portion on a sealing surface of theconnection-fixing device may be prevented in advance. In addition, thesealing protrusion may be formed on the sealing surface of theconnection-fixing device, thereby effectively preventing leakage ofrefrigerant between the suction chamber and the discharge chamber.

The suction noise device and the discharge noise device may beintegrally formed by the connection-fixing device and directly coupledto the compression device. This may reduce lengths of the suctionpassage and the discharge passage and accordingly decrease flowresistance experienced by the refrigerant, thereby improving compressorperformance.

The suction noise device and the discharge noise device may be formed ofa plastic material, which may lower material costs and improvemechanical properties, resulting in a reduction of fabricating costs.

The suction side noise space and the suction chamber forming the suctionside noise device may be separately formed and the discharge chamber andthe discharge side noise space forming the discharge noise device may beseparately formed, thereby simplifying the structures of the suctionside noise space and the discharge side noise space. In addition, noiseremoval effect may be increased by using the suction chamber and thedischarge chamber, so as to reduce overall size of the muffler andincrease noise removal effects.

In the foregoing embodiment, the suction side lower housing and thedischarge side lower housing may be independently formed and coupled tothe suction side upper housing and the discharge side upper housing.However, referring to FIG. 12, the suction side lower housing 111 andthe discharge side lower housing 121 may be formed integral with eachother. Even in this case, the basic configuration and the operationeffects may be the same as or similar to the foregoing embodiment.However, in the configuration, the number of components to be assembledmay be further reduced, including the lower housing 105 having thesuction side lower housing 111 and the discharge side lower housing 121,and the upper housing 106 having the suction side upper housing 131, thedischarge side upper housing 132, and the connection housing 133. Thismay result in further reduction of the assembly procedures of themuffler.

A muffler for a compressor and a compressor having the same are providedthat are capable of facilitating assembly of a suction muffler and adischarge muffler, and of preventing refrigerant leakage through anassembled portion of the suction muffler and the discharge muffler.

A muffler for a compressor and a compressor having the same are providedthat are capable of reducing suction loss by preventing overheat of anintroduced refrigerant, and accordingly enhancing compressor efficiency.

A muffler for a compressor and a compressor having the same are providedthat are capable of enhancing compressor efficiency by reducing suctionloss and discharge loss by reducing lengths of a suction passage and adischarge passage to decrease flow resistance.

A muffler for a compressor and a compressor having the same are providedthat are capable of reducing fabricating costs by reducing materialcosts of a suction muffler and a discharge muffler and increasingmechanical properties.

A muffler for a compressor and a compressor having the same are providedthat are capable of reducing a size thereof while maintaining a noiseremoval effect.

A muffler for a compressor communicating with a compression chamberhaving a suction opening and a discharge opening and coupled to acompression unit, as embodied and broadly described herein, may includea suction noise unit having a suction side noise space communicatingwith the suction opening of the compression chamber, a discharge noiseunit having a discharge side noise space communicating with thedischarge opening of the compression chamber, and a connection-fixingunit integrally connecting the suction noise unit and the dischargenoise unit to each other.

A compressor, as embodied and broadly described herein, may include acasing, a cylinder block disposed in the casing and having a compressionchamber, a valve assembly installed on a front surface of the cylinderblock and having a suction opening and a discharge opening communicatingwith the compression chamber, and an integral muffler comprising asuction noise unit having a suction side noise space communicating withthe suction opening of the compression chamber, a discharge noise unithaving a discharge side noise space communicating with the dischargeopening of the compression chamber, and a connection-fixing unitintegrally connecting the suction noise unit and the discharge noiseunit with each other.

In a muffler for a compressor and a compressor having the same, asembodied and broadly described herein, a suction noise unit and adischarge noise unit may be integrally formed with each other. This mayreduce the number of components configuring a suction side muffler and adischarge side muffler so as to reduce assembly procedures, and alsoreduce leakage of refrigerant generated at an assembled portion of themuffler so as to improve compressor performance.

The division between the suction noise unit and the discharge noise unitmay prevent discharged refrigerant from heating a suctioned refrigerant.This may prevent an increase in a specific volume of the suctionedrefrigerant, resulting in a reduction of suction loss.

The suction noise unit and the discharge noise unit may be integrallyformed by a connection-fixing unit so as to be coupled directly to acompression unit. This may shorten lengths of a suction passage and adischarge passage, resulting in improved compressor performance.

The formation of the suction noise unit and the discharge noise unitusing a plastic material may result in a reduction of material costs andan increase in mechanical properties, reducing overall fabricatingcosts.

Also, in a manner that a suction side noise space and a suction chamberforming the suction noise unit are formed separate from each other and adischarge side noise space and a discharge chamber forming the dischargenoise unit are formed separate from each other, the structures of thesuction side noise space and the discharge side noise space may besimplified and noise effect may be increased using the suction chamberand the discharge chamber. This may reduce an overall size of themuffler and improve noise effect.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A muffler for a compressor, the mufflercommunicating with a compression chamber having a suction opening, whichis opened and closed by a suction valve of a valve assembly, and adischarge opening, which is opened and closed by a discharge valve ofthe valve assembly, formed therein and being coupled to the valveassembly of a compression portion, the muffler comprising: a suctionnoise portion including a suction side noise space in communication withthe suction opening of the compression chamber; a discharge noiseportion including a discharge side noise space in communication with thedischarge opening of the compression chamber; and a connection-fixingportion that integrally connects the suction noise portion and thedischarge noise portion to each other and includes a connection housing,wherein a portion of the suction noise portion and a portion of thedischarge noise portion are integrally formed as a one-piece componenthaving at a suction side and a discharge side a of the connectionhousing, of the connection-fixing portion being coupled to the valveassembly of the compression portion, wherein an internal pressurestrength of a material of the discharge noise portion is greater than aninternal pressure strength of a material of the suction noise portion,wherein the suction noise portion includes a suction side upper housingand a suction side lower housing coupled to a lower end of the suctionside upper housing so as to form the suction side noise spacetherebetween, wherein the discharge noise portion includes a dischargeside upper housing and a discharge side lower housing such that thedischarge side upper housing is coupled to the discharge side lowerhousing so as to form the discharge side noise space therebetween,wherein the suction side upper housing and the discharge side upperhousing are integrally formed with two opposite sides of the connectionhousing of the connection-fixing portion coupled to the compressionportion, and wherein an internal pressure strength of materials of thesuction side upper housing, the discharge side upper housing, and theconnection housing are greater than an internal pressure strength of amaterial of the suction side lower housing and or the discharge sidelower housing.
 2. The muffler of claim 1, wherein the connection-fixingportion includes: a suction chamber provided at a first side surface ofthe connection-fixing portion, in communication with the suction openingof the compression chamber; a discharge chamber in communication withthe discharge opening of the compression chamber, the suction chamberand the discharge chamber having predetermined depths and widths,respectively; and a barrier wall provided within the connection-fixingportion to partition the suction chamber from the discharge chamber. 3.The muffler of claim 2, further including a suction guide opening formedbetween the suction side noise space and the suction chamber, wherein asectional area of the suction guide opening is less than a sectionalarea of the suction side noise space, and is less than a sectional areaof the suction chamber.
 4. The muffler of claim 2, further including adischarge guide opening formed between the discharge side noise spaceand the discharge chamber, wherein a sectional area of the dischargeguide opening is less than a sectional area of the discharge side noisespace, and is less than a sectional area of the discharge chamber. 5.The muffler of claim 2, further including a sealing protrusion formed ata mating surface of the suction chamber and the discharge chamber,wherein the sealing protrusion is integrally formed with one of thesuction chamber or the discharge chamber and forms a single closed loop.6. The muffler of claim 2, further including a sealing portion providedbetween the connection-fixing portion and the compression portion valueassembly, and wherein the connection-fixing portion includes a pluralityof supporting protrusions coupled to the sealing portion to support thesealing portion.
 7. The muffler of claim 1, wherein the suction sideupper housing and the discharge side upper housing are integrally formedhaving two opposite sides of the connection housing of theconnection-fixing portion coupled to the compression portion, whereinthe connection-fixing portion includes a barrier wall provided in aninterior space that partitions a suction chamber from a dischargechamber formed in the interior space, wherein the suction chamber is incommunication with the suction opening, and wherein the dischargechamber is in communication with the discharge opening.
 8. The mufflerof claim 7, further including: an inlet formed through the suction noiseportion to provide for communication between an inside and an outside ofthe suction side noise space; and a suction guide opening formed betweenthe suction noise portion and the connection-fixing portion to providefor communication between the suction side noise space and the suctionchamber, wherein an outlet end of the inlet is positioned below an inletend of the suction guide opening.
 9. The muffler of claim 7, furtherincluding: a discharge guide opening formed between theconnection-fixing portion and the discharge noise portion to provide forcommunication between the discharge chamber and the discharge side noisespace; and an outlet formed through the discharge noise portion toprovide for communication between an inside and an outside of thedischarge side noise space.
 10. The muffler of claim 1, furtherincluding at least one reinforcing rib formed as a protrusion on aninner circumferential surface or an outer circumferential surface of thedischarge noise portion.
 11. The muffler of claim 10, wherein the atleast one reinforcing rib is formed on an inner circumferential surfaceof the discharge side upper housing, that extends in a verticaldirection, and wherein a refrigerant passage is formed as a recess in alower portion of the discharge side lower housing, spaced apart from alower end of the at least one reinforcing rib by a predeterminedinterval.
 12. The muffler of claim 1, wherein a volume of the dischargeside upper housing is greater than a volume of the suction side upperhousing, and a volume of the discharge side lower housing is greaterthan a volume of the suction side lower housing, and wherein the suctionside lower housing and the discharge side lower housing are integrallyformed.
 13. A compressor including the muffler of claim
 1. 14. Acompressor, comprising a casing; a cylinder block of a compressionportion provided in the casing and having a compression chamber; a valveassembly of the compression portion installed on the cylinder block andhaving a suction opening and a discharge opening in communication withthe compression chamber; and an integral muffler coupled to the valveassembly so as to be in communication with the compression chamber, theintegral muffler including: a suction noise portion having a suctionside noise space in communication with the suction opening of the valveassembly; a discharge noise portion having a discharge side noise spacein communication with the discharge opening of the valve assembly; and aconnection-fixing portion that integrally connects the suction noiseportion and the discharge noise portion to each other and includes aconnection housing, wherein a portion of the suction noise portion and aportion of the discharge noise portion are integrally formed as aone-piece component having at a suction side and a discharge side a ofthe connection housing, of the connection-fixing portion being coupledto the valve assembly of the compression portion, wherein an internalpressure strength of a material of the discharge noise portion isgreater than an internal pressure strength of a material of the suctionnoise portion, wherein the suction noise portion includes a suction sideupper housing and a suction side lower housing coupled to a lower end ofthe suction side upper housing so as to form the suction side noisespace therebetween, wherein the discharge noise portion includes adischarge side upper housing and a discharge side lower housing suchthat the discharge side upper housing is coupled to the discharge sidelower housing so as to form the discharge side noise space therebetween,wherein the suction side upper housing and the discharge side upperhousing are integrally formed with two opposite sides of the connectionhousing of the connection-fixing portion coupled to the compressionportion, and wherein an internal pressure strength of materials of thesuction side upper housing, the discharge side upper housing, and theconnection housing are greater than an internal pressure strength of amaterial of the suction side lower housing and or the discharge sidelower housing.
 15. The compressor of claim 14, further a sealing portionformed at a mating surface between the connection-fixing portion and thevalve assembly, wherein the sealing portion is integrally formed as aclosed loop on one of the connection-fixing portion or the valveassembly.
 16. The compressor of claim 14, further including a sealingportion inserted between mating surfaces of the connection-fixingportion and the valve assembly, wherein the sealing portion forms aclosed loop.
 17. The compressor of claim 14, wherein theconnection-fixing portion is coupled to the cylinder block or to thevalve assembly by a fixing portion that supports the connection-fixingportion.
 18. The compressor of claim 17, further including aposition-fixing portion formed on a contact surface between theconnection-fixing portion and the fixing portion, that fixes and fixingthe coupled position of the fixing portion and the connection-fixingportion.
 19. A compressor, comprising a casing; a cylinder block of acompression portion provided in the casing and having a compressionchamber; a valve assembly of the compression portion installed on thecylinder block and having a suction opening and a discharge opening incommunication with the compression chamber; and an integral mufflercoupled to the valve assembly so as to be in communication with thecompression chamber, the integral muffler including: a suction noiseportion having a suction side noise space in communication with thesuction opening of the valve assembly; a discharge noise portion havinga discharge side noise space in communication with the discharge openingof the valve assembly; and a connection-fixing portion that integrallyconnects the suction noise portion and the discharge noise portion toeach other and includes a connection housing, wherein a portion of thesuction noise portion and a portion of the discharge noise portion areintegrally formed as a one-piece component at a suction side and adischarge side of the connection housing, the connection-fixing portionbeing coupled to the valve assembly, wherein an internal pressurestrength of a material of the discharge noise portion is greater than aninternal pressure strength of a material of the suction noise portion,wherein the suction noise portion includes a suction side upper housingand a suction side lower housing coupled to a lower end of the suctionside upper housing so as to form the suction side noise spacetherebetween, wherein the discharge noise portion includes a dischargeside upper housing and a discharge side lower housing such that thedischarge side upper housing is coupled to the discharge side lowerhousing so as to form the discharge side noise space therebetween,wherein the suction side upper housing and the discharge side upperhousing are integrally formed with two opposite sides of the connectionhousing of the connection-fixing portion, and wherein materials of thesuction side upper housing, the discharge side upper housing, and theconnection housing are different from a material of the suction sidelower housing or the discharge side lower housing.
 20. The compress ofclaim 19, materials of the suction side upper housing, the dischargeside upper housing and the connection housing are formed of a nylonmaterial and a material of the suction side lower housing or thedischarge side lower housing is formed of a PBT material.
 21. Thecompressor of claim 19, further including a sealing portion formed at amating surface between the connection-fixing portion and the valveassembly, wherein the sealing portion is integrally formed as a closedloop on one of the connection-fixing portion or the valve assembly. 22.The compressor of claim 19, further including a sealing member insertedbetween mating surfaces of the connection-fixing portion and the valveassembly.
 23. The compressor of claim 19, wherein the connection-fixingportion is coupled to the cylinder block or to the valve assembly by afixing portion that supports the connection-fixing portion.
 24. Thecompressor of claim 23, wherein the fixing portion is formed of ametallic material.
 25. The compressor of claim 23, wherein the fixingportion includes: a position-fixing portion provided on a contactsurface of the connection-fixing portion and fixing the coupled positionof the fixing portion and the connection-fixing portion; and at leastthree legs provided on an outer circumferential surface of theposition-fixing portion, the at least three legs having a shape of atripod.
 26. The compressor of claim 25, wherein: the integral mufflerincludes at least one position-fixing protrusion provided on an outercircumferential surface thereof, and the fixing portion further includesat least one position-fixing recess, in which the position-fixingprotrusion is inserted, the at least one position-fixing recess beingformed on an inner circumferential surface of one of the at least threelegs.
 27. The compressor of claim 25, further including: a pressedrecess portion formed on the connection-fixing portion; and a pressingprotrusion portion provided on an inner side surface of theposition-fixing portion and corresponding to the pressed recess portion,wherein the pressing protrusion portion is inserted into the pressedrecess portion.
 28. The compressor of claim 25, wherein the at leastthree legs are bent to exert an elastic force toward theconnection-fixing portion.
 29. The compressor of claim 25, furtherincluding: a passing hole formed in each of the at least three legs; afastening hole formed in the connection-fixing portion; and a screw thatpasses through the passing hole and is fastened to the fastening hole.